Chay Fihaki celebratres his game-winning try against Counties-Manukau. Photo: Photosport
Competition leaders Canterbury have reached the NPC semifinals, but only after overcoming tenacious Counties-Manukau 23-15 in extra time.
The scores were locked at 15-all at the end of regular time and Canterbury had just enough left in the tank to overcome a brave Steelers outfit during the added 20 minutes.
No-one could have predicted early in the NPC season that the Steelers would play Canterbury in a quarterfinal, after losing their first five games.
Their late-season revival has been one of the highlights of the season and they took this match to Canterbury.
They quickly replied to Jamie Hannah's first-half try with a sizzler from second-five George Popali'i and followed it up with one to hooker Ioane Moananu in the corner.
With the advantage of a howling wind, they took a 15-5 lead into halftime, but Canterbury struck back and levelled it up with a converted try, after Braydon Ennor crashed over.
The score stayed at 15-all, as Canterbury missed a chance with just two minutes to go, when Chay Fihaki lined up a massive penalty from an outrageous 72 metres, but even the gusting wind couldn't carry the distance and the sides had a two-minute break, as the referee called for 20 minutes of extra time.
Canterbury took the lead, with Fihaki crossing over, after a sustained period of attack from the red-and-blacks, before kicking a penalty with six minutes remaining.
The Steelers never gave up, but they couldn't get through the punishing Canterbury defence in the dying stages.
Otago will play Bay of Plenty in the first semifinal in Dunedin on Friday, while Canterbury will face Hawke's Bay in the second on Saturday. Both games start at 7pm.
See how today's quarterfinal unfolded here:
